BARON49_Northern NY

Below 0 here in NY this morning and it seems the older I get the longer Winters are. One good thing is every year in Feb. I get out of here for sunny Florida. I get about 6 weeks to fish Toho and several of the other local lakes and it seems like it takes forever for Feb to get here.

Based on all the documention it appears California is way ahead of the game for producing 20 lb + fish. With all the tournaments and exposure Texas lakes have gotten not one fish over 20 lbs has been caught. So California gets my vote.

I like the X-raps have used them a lot for a while now and they catch fish. I see no reason to change.

Just another reason to buy American!

I have to question this statement "braid will dry rot and break off like mono." Can you back this up with some factual information from a knowlegable web site? I fully agree you have to retie any line due to nicks and damage to a knot can happen. However, I have never read anything about braid being subject to dry-rot.

It never fails...I always throw away the boxes I need. I save them in another big box out in the garage rafters.

I have stored my rods in rod tubes year round in my garage for more years then I care to admit to. They are safe and clean in the tubes and I stand them vertically. Never had a single problem with a rod doing this.

I just do a search with as much information as I can on Ebay. If you are not getting hits, then try different wording for your searches.

I fish mainly clear water with lots of weed cover like Milfoil and Hydrilla. Here are my normal setups. Worms...Power Pro 30 lb braid on baitcasting and 10 lb Fireline on spinning Jigs...Power Pro 50 lb thick cover 30lb in more open water. Spinnerbaits...Trilene XT green 17 lb Crankbaits...P-line 10 or 12 lb Fluoroclear Swimbaits...Trilene XT green 17 lb or Power Pro 30 lb

Tried the Berkley 100% Fluoro for the first time last year. Used it in Florida and back in NY. While it does stretch as much if not more then mono it is so dense it does give more sensitivity and is much more abrasion resistant especially around rocks and zebra mussels. The down side for me is it seems to break down due to UV after being on the deck for a few days. I found the line to get brittle when tying knots and would have to cut off several yards before being able to finally get a knot to hold. This year I am going back to Power Pro braid and if I need fluoro I will tie it on as a leader instead of wasting a lot of money on spooling up a reel with it only to strip off yards of it after the UV makes it brittle.

I am looking at this exact same rod. A good friend told me Gander Mountain sells this rod for $139. My local Gander does not have one in stock, but the Gander in Syracuse does. Going to stop in and check it out this Friday. I wanted either the Avid or Legend 7' MM but can't find either for less then $170 and for a cranking rod feel that is a bit high.

I fish mainly clear water and find the 30lb Moss green Power pro with 8lb test diameter perfect for almost all situations for worms, creatures, and jigs. However when fishing thick milfoil and hydrilla in this same clear water I move up to 50lb Power Pro with 12 lb test diameter. When fishing floating frogs in the worst of cover or in open water I use 65 lb power pro as I feel line size means nothing, but having a tough line to get the fish up amd moving is more important.

After spending time on several of these bass forums I found I was spending way too much at BPS. I still check out their clearance sales and find a bargin or two, but for the most part doing a little looking around on the web saves you lots of money.

I am new to dealing with Ebay. However after getting two Revo Winches for $140 each when they retail for $199.99 each. I have to say I am impressed and will start doing more looking there before hitting the big box tackle stores.

I throw some 2 and 3 oz Musky spinnerbaits with a huge treble hidden in the feathered trailer and have had Smallmouths engulf the entire treble. so there is no reason why a big Largemouth could not do the same thing.

Can't go wrong with Triple Grips. Been using them for a while and find they do help land more bass on crankbaits.

jig and pig using a real pork frog chunk works for me.

Glad to see so many others thread the Paca Chunk as well.

I evaluate a new lure by using it when the fish are on or in a biting mood to see if it triggers strikes. If it does I use it on a day when the bite is slow or off to see if it works under these conditions as well. If it does, it gets a special place in my tackle box as it is rare to find one that works in both situations.

Someone mentioned they would keep a fish that size as they could not afford a replica mount. I was under the impresssion replica mounts were less expensive?

I own quite a few Revos and have had them ever since they came out. If anything they cast better now then they did new. Even the Revo S models would cast that 5" Senko into the wind if you have an educated thumb, if not use the Revo SX and adjust the magnetic brakes to your liking.

I thread on double tails and craws....with chunks I just hook them straight through about 1/4 of an inch from the end and let it dangle from the hook.

Must be Christmas improved everyones sense of humor....and that is a good thing! 10" black/blue power worm is #1 by the way.....

Glad to hear you are doing well with burning it. I have a little success with burning in the early AM or right at dusk. My best retrieve for the bigger fish has been simple waking it with the rod held high over weedbeds.

I picked up some of these spinnerbaits from Dick's Sporting Goods about two years ago. Stopped using trailers all together since using them. I like the way the attached trailer hook is hidden in the extra length of skirt too. Grabbed a bunch of the perfect skirts Gander Mt. had on sale and I am set for the coming year.